How Do I Love
Thee?by Elizabeth Barrett Browning 1806-1861
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.I love thee to
the depth and breadth and heightMy soul can reach, when feeling out of sightFor the ends of Being and ideal Grace.I love
thee to the level of everyday''''sMost quiet need, by sun and candlelight.I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.I love thee
with the passion put to useIn my old griefs, and with my childhood''''s faith.I love thee with a love I seemed to loseWith my lost saints, — I love thee with the breath,Smiles, tears, of all my life! — and, if God choose,I shall but love thee better after death.
Elizabeth Barett Browning was born in Coxhoe Hall, Durham,
England in 1806. In 1821 Elizabeth injured her spine and spent the rest
of her life as an invalid. She married another famous poet Robert
Browning in 1846 and wrote this poem about him. This is one of the best
known of all love poems and is often recited at weddings and
engagements.